SBU foils Air Force major’s plan to aid Russian attacks on Western fighter jets

According to SBU officials, military counterintelligence uncovered another Russian military intelligence (GRU) agent within the Defense Forces. The agent was a flight instructor and major in one of the Air Force brigades.

The brigade in which the suspect served carries out combat missions to shoot down enemy missiles and drones and conducts strikes on ground targets to support Ukrainian army operations from the air.

Investigators say the agent performed multiple tasks. First, he provided information to facilitate new Russian missile and drone attacks on Air Force targets.

Specifically, the primary targets were airfields hosting F-16, Mirage 2000, and Su-24 aircraft. The major collected coordinates of aircraft locations, flight schedules, and operational protocols.

To ensure the success of Russian strikes, the suspect prepared and sent an analytical report to the enemy, outlining what he believed was the necessary tactic for combined strikes to bypass the defenses of these military sites, the SBU stated.

Second, the agent passed personal data on Ukrainian Air Force pilots, aircraft tail numbers, armaments, and combat flight tactics to the Russians.

The major communicated with a Russian intelligence operative via an anonymous email channel and used secure messenger chats.

SBU operatives detained the man after he attempted to gather “a new batch” of information. Investigators plan to charge him under Article 111, Part 2, of Ukraine’s Criminal Code—treason committed under martial law—which carries a penalty of life imprisonment with property confiscation.